US "Concerns over Xinjiang and Hong Kong" · China "Attempts to Overthrow Socialist System Not Allowed"

Sherman, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, and Wang Yi, Chinese Foreign Minister, Meet with No Progress
During Vice Minister Talks, China Mentions Red Lines to U.S.

Wendy Sherman, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, and Wang Yi, Chinese Foreign Minister, are meeting on the 25th.
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Wendy Sherman, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, who visited China, conveyed concerns about human rights issues in Xinjiang and the suppression of democracy in Hong Kong during talks with Wang Yi, Chinese Foreign Minister. Wang Yi countered by stating that the U.S. should not attempt to overthrow China’s socialist system and demanded the lifting of all unilateral sanctions against China.

On the 26th (local time), the U.S. State Department issued a statement through spokesperson Ned Price, saying Deputy Secretary Sherman emphasized that the U.S. does not seek conflict with China, but expressed concerns about China’s actions that violate the values and interests of the U.S., its allies, and partners, and undermine the international rules-based order. Sherman also raised issues regarding China’s hacking, the Taiwan Strait, and the South China Sea.

Deputy Secretary Sherman particularly mentioned cases of Americans and Canadians detained or unable to leave China, reminding that these cannot be subjects of negotiation.

According to spokesperson Price, Sherman also expressed concern about China’s lack of cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) investigation into the origins of COVID-19.

He also emphasized the importance of cooperation on issues such as the climate change crisis, drugs, nuclear non-proliferation, and regional matters involving North Korea, Iran, Afghanistan, and Myanmar.

In response, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi demanded that the U.S. must not attempt to overthrow China’s socialist system and must lift all unilateral sanctions against China.

According to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Wang told Deputy Secretary Sherman, "The U.S. should lift all unilateral sanctions and tariffs against China, as well as the expanded jurisdiction laws, as soon as possible."

Wang also stressed that the U.S. must not challenge, slander, or attempt to overthrow China’s socialist system. Regarding issues related to the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Tibet, and Hong Kong, he pointed out that the U.S. should not infringe upon China’s territorial sovereignty.

Deputy Secretary Sherman’s visit to China over two days starting on the 25th was the highest-level official visit by a U.S. official to China under the Joe Biden administration. Sherman met with Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng in the morning and with Minister Wang in the afternoon.

Vice Minister Xie stated after the talks that he delivered a list of improvements that the U.S. must implement and issues that China is focusing on.

The list of demands for improvements included lifting visa restrictions on Chinese Communist Party members and their families, as well as Chinese students; lifting sanctions on Chinese officials, leaders, and institutions; stopping repression of Confucius Institutes and Chinese companies; canceling the decision to register Chinese media as "foreign agents" or "foreign missions"; and halting the U.S. extradition request for Meng Wanzhou, Huawei’s vice chairwoman.

Regarding this, Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post (SCMP) commented, "China has for the first time delivered a list of red lines and demands for improvements to the U.S."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.